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Feature story

Ariane's 30 years: reliability, flexibility and payload delivery accuracy for customers worldwide

December 24, 2009

Arianespace’s Ariane launcher today marks the 30th anniversary of its maiden flight, highlighting three decades of operational excellence at the service of satellite telecommunications operators, manufacturers, space agencies and governmental organizations around the globe.

The historic inaugural liftoff occurred on December 24, 1979 from the Spaceport in French Guiana, utilizing an Ariane 1 version that placed a payload of 1,645 kg. into orbit. 

During 30 years of operations, a total of 193 Ariane missions have been performed, delivering 277 payloads into geostationary transfer orbit, low Earth orbit, Sun-synchronous orbit and on Earth escape trajectories for 73 customers.

While the European visionaries who created Ariane had high hopes for its utilization, they probably could not have anticipated its ultimate evolution into the world’s leading commercial launch vehicle – which today is the space service industry’s workhorse.

The Ariane family has always been recognized for its reliability, flexibility and payload delivery accuracy, which continues with the current Ariane 5 version. 

“With 49 launches performed to date, Ariane 5 has logged 35 consecutive successes – by far the highest reliability on the market,” said Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall.  “In addition, we are maintaining the mission pace: after the seven Ariane 5s launched in 2009, Arianespace will continue the cadence with a forecast of six or seven flights in 2010.”